Off We Go...!

By Val
"Off we go, into the wild blue yonder flying high into the sun"....um. or something like that.

Ryan and I had our 3hr hour, gruesome, no bars held interview on Tuesday. It was to evaluate whether we could continue on in staff with the Navigators. The interviewers dig through all your past and find all your juicy secrets which you then have to flesh out with them. Okay... Maybe it's not that bad. BUT you do have to go through different aspects of your past and discuss what you've learned, how you've healed and if further action is required in order to help us to become spiritually and emotionally healthy missionaries.

God was soooooooooo gracious. We talked through some pretty difficult stuff and they asked some tough questions but through it all we felt our interviewers were so loving and full of grace. Coming out of it Ryan and I felt so blessed to be a part of an organization that cares so much of the well being of their staff.

So the short end of it is they gave us the green flag. Staff in Training here we come! Staff in Training is the next step in our training to be full fledged Navigator Staff. It is generally a 2-3 year commitment and is more focused on training. Our desire, if God allows, is to one day open a Navigator program at an untouched campus and this is one step closer to that dream.

Our trip to AZ

by Val,

Well, we're back in cool, strangely cloudy San Diego. We've been back for almost a week but we were so tired from "break" that I think today is the first day I actually don't feel like huddling in the corner and pulling a blanket over my head when I think of doing any kind of work.

Arizona was refreshing but also very tiring.


Family
It was so wonderful to stay with my parents. They are one of the most generous people I know. I can seriously say they would give you "the shirt off their back." It was also really good to hang out with my brothers at night just shooting the breeze. I forgot how much I miss that kind of community. My brothers are my closest friends hands down, outside of Ryan. I just love being with them. God is doing amazing things in their lives and it's way cool to see.

Also, we got some time with Ryan's folks and saw Robbie's AMAZING french horn recital. It's always so good to see Ryan in his "element." It brings me so much happiness to see him around his family. He knows he can just let loose and be "Ryan" when he's around them. His parents are amazing and so supportive. They did such a wonderful job raising him to love and fear God. They have such a deep love for all their children. I feel so blessed to be included in their family.

Friends
We were able to spend a good chunk of time with our close friend Matt. He's one of those special friends of Ryan's, that I actually feel almost as close to as Ryan does. For those of you married or in a relationship you know that I mean. It's a very special gift to have a close friend who is a genuine friend of both parties. It's also really comforting because you know you don't have to make small talk with this person. With matt I know the three of us can just hang, watch some shows, play some crazy games or talk about whatever is on our minds. Now that was a special treat. In so many ways he truly is like a brother to us.

We also hung out with the ASU Nav staff which is always good. We both feel so close to every member of that staff team. Their friendships are invalueable. It's also good to remember that we're not alone in this. Listening to the ASU staff I was reminded that our struggles are not new. Other people are going through the exact same things as Ryan and I. We are not alone. That was good to remember.

It was also really cool to catch up with some people I haven't seen since high school. That's was really sweet.

Ryan and I were also able to get some time with different students over at ASU. When I meet with girls I know that there is a purpose around it. That purpose is to help them love Jesus more. However, I always hope and pray that those relationships I have with girls will someday blossom into something more. Into a true friendship. When it does, it is such an amazing gift. I feel that God has done that with me over in AZ and I pray that he does the same in SD. Regardless, anytime I've ever invested in a girl in any capacity, God lays it on my heart to pray earnestly for them for the rest of their lives. So it's such a joy to hear from them how those prayers are being answered and to hear what God's been doing in their lives.

Meetings
God gave us TEN meetings with people, to share are hearts with, regarding the work we are doing in San Diego. It was so great for me to hear what God's been in their lives. It was also an amazing encouragement for the both of us. Especially to hear from the Burtches, who have spent years trusting God and persevering in faith. What a special sight it was to see two people who have gone through so much still following God's leading. It was also so good to get some time with the Paasch's. God has been doing some amazing stuff in their lives, if you want, you should check it out (http://gracetotheendsoftheearth.blogspot.com/ ). Anyways, it's was great to hear their honesty, their struggles and their stories of how God provides.

One of the most encouraging things for Ryan and I at this stage is to hear those "war" stories. Those stories that remind that this world is not for us, yet we are compelled until our last dying breath to share our hope in Jesus with others because He's worth it. We are soldiers here, and yes, God promises his provision and demonstrates it regularly, yet he also promises suffering. He promises it. That's some deep stuff for me to think through.

Exhaustion
Well, I think I tallied all the meetings we had with people this week, planned and spontanious, and I think it added up to 27. That's alot of people time for a self-proclaimed introvert. When we got back to San Diego I was SO exhausted! Thankfully we have a protective and wise campus leader. He's let us kinda take it easy this week. Which has been nice.

I feel pretty refreshed now and I am looking forward to celebrating Jesus with my husband tomorrow.

The AZ

So..we're heading out to AZ today.

We'll see how it goes. Alot of what we'll be doing is re-connecting with old friends. However, I know that we'll end up sharing with them what God is is doing through us over here in SD. I pray that God would stir even just one old acquaintance to get excited over what we do, and that they would partner with us. I hope you all will join me in this prayer.

Other then that, I know it will be a great to time to re-connect. Show off my hubby ;-). and get some time of prayer and fellowship with people from all different walks with Jesus. I'm excited!

Quieres Comer?

It's been weird/cool trying to step in my role as a wife. One of the challenges has been to learn how to serve Ryan and how to serve company when they come.

When I was little I spent a huge chunk of my childhood at my Nana's and Tata's. They ALWAYS had people visiting them. Along with that, my cousins, my aunt and my great uncle lived with them for most of my elementary school life. On top of all that, my family would come over almost everyday. There were always people at their house. And with people, there was always food. First thing my Nana would ask when we stepped in the door, "quieres comer nina?" (do you want to eat?). Even if we weren't hungry who could say no to warm cream of wheat in the morning, with so much sugar that you weren't sure which were the white flakes of the wheat and which were white sugary goodness. Or her amazing sandwhichs. Masterpieces on magnificant white bread (a no-no in my parents house) with huge slabs of tomatoe, heads of lettuce, hearty bologne and that oh so good slice of all-american cheese. And these were just her everyday foods. Don't get me started on her chile rellenos, tostadas, tacos, tamales, burritos, toritillas and rice, just to name a few. My nana was always cooking, and when she wasn't cooking she was serving. She was always the last to eat and she ALWAYS, ALWAYS served my Tata first. She was hospitality and love in human form. She was never stressed and always did it with joy no matter how tired she was.

Alot of that rubbed onto my mom. When I was little, everyweek my famly would invite a family over after church for lunch or sometimes even during the week. Countless biblestudies were held in their home. As we got older my parents didn't do so as much because they treasured the nights we could all get together as a family and they didn't want to steal away from that. But even when our lives became chaotic I remember my family would always be ministering to someone. Serving someone. There's not a time in my life that I can remember where my mom WASN'T serving someone. Either taking friends home from school, chaperoning field trips, opening the house for movies and games...the list goes on and on. Selfless, sacrificial and genuine. That's my mom. My Mom is an amazing hostess. She'd ask if you wanted a glass of water even before you fully came in the door. Ryan LOVES going over because he knows that no matter what time it is he know's he can get a hot plate of food. Sometimes I would wonder if our friends would come over for me, or for my mom :-).

So that's the legacy of servanthood I come from. Very daunting as I look at it now. Both ladies served/serving the Lord with all their heart. There were both similarities and differences in how their servanthood played out. The question now is, what will that look like for me? Will God bless me with this same heart of servanthood he bestoyed on my Nana and Mom? I hope so. I feel blessed as it is for God to have given me such wonderful examples. Wonderful examples of joyous serventhood.